DragonTribes #2: ForestTribe

Chapter 15: Petunias For Petunia

"You must be the entourage Zoe talks about." Zoe heard Mom's voice echo through the house as she woke up.

Zoe stretched and listened to the reply, "Is Zoe up yet?" Zack asked.

"Obviously not." Russell replied.

"Yes, I am." Zoe called and got out of bed.

"Yay!" Lillian's voice echoed.

Zoe yawned and sleepily walked to the kitchen. She was instantly surrounded by the four children.

"You won't believe it!" Tony blurted.

"So many people asked us about the necklaces!" Lillian exclaimed, "You know, they've seen us walking around with them for the past couple weeks, and they know about Petunia and her crash. People want to know if we are going to wear them for the race to support Petunia!"

Zoe smiled, "What an interesting conclusion they came to. I guess we could."

"We should!" Zack raised his hands in the air happily.

Zoe smiled. Mom handed her a piece of toast. Zoe took a bite and stood awkwardly as all eyes watched her chew. She finished the toast quickly and stretched a final time.

"Let's go." Zoe said.

With that, all four children dashed out the door. Zoe waved goodbye to Mom, who smiled and waved back, then chased after them. They were already at the fence, greeting Petunia. Petunia perked her ears as Zoe approached. The white dragon cooed.

"Good morning." Zoe said softly to her dragon.

Petunia's tail wagged and she sat by the reins on the wall. Zoe smiled, opened the gate, and approached her dragon. She took the reins off the hook as she pat Petunia's white forehead. Petunia purred and opened her lower jaw. Zoe placed the bit in her mouth then held the reins in her hand.

"Can we look in the forest again?" Lillian asked.

"Please!" Tony pleaded.

"We know that we need to look in sunspots!" Zack added.

"You also know about the vicious panthers correct?" Zoe warned.

"Yea." Russell said, scared.

"Didn't Petunia scare off a panther once?" Lillian asked.

Petunia squawked and arched her neck proudly.

Zoe smiled, "She sure did, and saved another dragon or rider in doing so."

"Then, we'll be fine!" Zack proposed.

"I guess we can go then." Zoe gave in.

"YAY!" The entourage cheered in unison.

Petunia squawked and turned towards the forest. Zoe smiled and led the group across the fields to the Amazon Groves. She brushed leaves aside and marched into the deep green. The leaves rustled behind her as the rest of the parade made their way through. Zoe led them for quite a while, how long she wasn't sure, but only two had small handfuls of petunias.

There was a grumble behind her, "I'm hungry," Tony announced.

Zoe looked back, many of the children appeared very tired. Petunia nodded at Tony.

"Alright, let's head back." Zoe said.

As she turned around to head back she realized, she too, was hungry and tired. They trudged on back, retracing their steps. Zoe brushed aside the leaves of the fat bush happily as light shown through. Petunia pushed her aside and ran into the field. The white dragon slid onto her stomach and spread her wings, absorbing the afternoon heat. The children laughed behind her. Zoe caught up to her dragon and sat next to her.